BIRDBATHS 101

Almost anything that holds water, from a saucer to a pond, will do the trick, if you take care to put it in an appropriate place, make sure it is not too deep, and keep it clean.

Your birdbath should be placed where the birds have a clear view of the area around the bath.  Do not place too close to shrubs where predators (housecats) can hide.  A nearby branch provides a place to preen and dry off.

Birds can drown.  A shallow bath less than 3” deep is best. You may need to add a flat rock in a deeper bath so the little birds can feel secure when getting a sip.  It is best not to add a lot of small rocks as it makes it harder to keep the bath clean.

Placing the bath within reach of a hose will help you keep the bath clean.  A good hard spray will remove most of the dirt before refilling.  If you keep a brush by the bath, you can give it a quick scrub before replacing the water and never get a buildup of algae and gunk.

 
 

A dirty birdbath may have adverse health effects for the birds that visit.

This bath is well placed with handy branches for cover and good visability all around.

 

You can hardly see this birdbath among the tall plants. There are too many places for a predator to hide.

 

This bowl is too deep for smaller birds. The addition of a flat rock solves that problem. The dripper keeps the water fresh and cool, plus, movement of the water attracts more birds.

 

 

A brush placed near the bath can make cleanup a breeze.

A Word about Mosquitos

A birdbath that has the water changed at least every 4 days is not a suitable habitat for mosquitos to lay eggs. Moving water is also not suitable. The addition of a fountain feature, a dripper, or a battery operated Water Wiggler (pictured right), will attract birds and eliminate mosquito reproduction.